Uncovering the Connection: Dinosaur-Era Ocean Swirls and Modern Climate Change
Israeli scientists from Hebrew University have discovered a previously unknown mechanism called "gyral circulation" that influenced Earth's climate over 60 million years ago during the Cretaceous period. By evaluating wind-driven circulation at the ocean's surface, the researchers found that the movement of Earth's continents during that time caused a slowdown in the large swirling ocean currents responsible for carrying warm water from the equator to the poles. This disruption in ocean regulation significantly increased temperature differences between the poles and the tropics. The study highlights the importance of oceanic processes in shaping contemporary climate systems and provides insights into modeling and predicting the impacts of climate change in the modern era.